THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT © Laser Learning Ltd 2014

The Learning Perspective The learning perspective argues that children imitate what they see and hear, and that children learn from punishment and reinforcement (Shaffer, Wood and Willoughby, 2002) © Laser Learning Ltd 2014

The Learning Perspective The main theorist associated with the learning perspective is B.F. Skinner. Skinner argued that adults shape the speech of children by reinforcing the babbling of infants that sound most like words. (Skinner,1957, as cited in Shaffer, Wood and Willoughby, 2002). © Laser Learning Ltd 2014

The Nativist Perspective The nativist perspective argues that humans are biologically programmed to gain knowledge. The main theorist associated with this perspective is Noam Chomsky. © Laser Learning Ltd 2014

The Nativist Perspective Chomsky proposed that all humans have a language acquisition device (LAD). The LAD contains knowledge of grammatical rules common to all languages (Shaffer, Wood and Willoughby, 2002). The LAD also allows children to understand the rules of whatever language they are listening to. © Laser Learning Ltd 2014

Chomsky Chomsky also developed the concepts of transactional grammar, surface structure, and deep structure. Transformational grammar is grammar that transforms a sentence. Surface structures are words that are actually written. Deep structure is the underlying message or meaning of a sentence (Matlin, 2005) © Laser Learning Ltd 2014

Interactionist theory Interactionists argue that language development is both biological and social. Interactionists argue that language learning is influenced by the desire of children to communicate with others. © Laser Learning Ltd 2011

Interactionist theory The interactionists argue that “children are born with a powerful brain that matures slowly and predisposes them to acquire new understandings that they are motivated to share with others”. (Bates, 1993; Tomasello, 1995, as cited in Shaffer et al, 2002) © Laser Learning Ltd 2011

Vygotsky The main theorist associated with interactionist theory is Lev Vygotsky. Interactionists focus on Vygotsky’s model of collaborative learning. Collaborative learning is the idea that conversations with older people can help children both cognitively and linguistically. © Laser Learning Ltd 2011

Activity Observe a child of 2 who is learning how to talk and think about how they are developing their language skills in light of the various theorists mentioned in this PowerPoint. Which of the theorists’ views do you agree with?